T is for 'Tis the Season

 

So this is Christmas - and what have you done?

I didn't even thought to start this post with these words, but the moments my fingers hit the keyboard, that old John Lennon song came to mind and the words were staring back from the screen to me. And of course, now the song is stuck in my head!

Here we are in December, it's a mere 12 days til Christmas. We call this season "Adventszeit" in Germany and it certainly is the time when I miss my native country the most. No one can do Christmas like Germany. I spent the Christmas season in several countries, but the magic happens in Germany.

Christmas has largely lost its magic for us, but one thing we do every year the day after Thanksgiving is hanging lights on our home and garden fence. The Geek and Kaefer used to do it together, but since the girl moved to Germany, the Geek has been doing it on his own (no, I am not climbing on the roof). He always gets a ton of compliments; some evening dog walkers told us that they explicitly walk this route in order to admire our lights. It does bring cheer and brightness into this corner of our street.

Kaefer, who is sad that the Christmas market is closed in Munich for the second year due to COVID, sent us a "care package" with all the wonderful German sweets that we like so much. Isn't she a darling girl?

She has had some snow in Munich and sent us pictures of the tiny snowman she had made.

In my German class we had talked about the Christmas markets, the cookies and, of course, Glühwein (mulled wine). So this past Saturday - our last class before the winter break - I invited all of them home for some Glühwein. We sat outside, it was sunny but chilly - at least the temperatures resembled a little bit the Christmas market atmosphere. 

There were Christmas cookies, gebrannte Mandeln (roasted almonds) and Lebkuchen.

On the stove the Glühwein was heating up (red wine, oranges, cloves and cinnamon; everybody sweetens their Glühwein to taste).

I had pulled out the few mugs that I had bought at the Tübingen Christmas market years ago. Each year I would buy a mug and then stroll along the streets with all the booths and get regular refills of Glühwein.

Guess what? This is my ticket for Elizabeth and the T gang!

We had a great time.

I enjoy showing my students our German traditions and introduce them to some of them. Plus, it's a great excuse for getting together outside of school.